2 hours ago
A bipartisan effort by Colorado’s legislature requiring quicker turnaround on search warrants issued to major social media companies is almost on its way to Gov. Jared Polis. We urge him to sign it into law.
Senate Bill 26-011would enhance law enforcement’s ability to root out and even head off some of the wide-ranging perils threatening Colorado kids on popular social media platforms.
Colorado policymakers contend last September’s shooting at Evergreen High School —where a 16-year-old seriously wounded two fellow students before killing himself — could have been prevented if social media companies had been required to respond faster to warrants.
As reported by The Gazette and news partner 9NEWS earlier this year, the Anti-Defamation League had tipped the FBI’s New York field office last July, months before the shooting, about a social media account user whose identity was unknown and who was discussing plans of a mass shooting. The social media posts eventually were connected to the Evergreen shooter.
Investigating agencies had said the social media companies involved were slow to provide information on the tip at the time. SB 26-011 could help law enforcement identify threats and intervene more swiftly.
The measure, which passed the Colorado House Monday and just needs another procedural vote by the state Senate, includes provisions that could speed up investigations. Among its provisions, it would require social media to streamline their turnaround of search warrants they’ve been issued in Colorado. The companies would have to set up hotlines to respond to inquiries from law enforcement; quickly confirm warrants received, and in most cases provide the information sought by warrants within three days.
The rules cover all public or semi-public websites, online services, or mobile apps that have at least 1 million monthly users in Colorado; that allow users to create public or semi-public profiles, and that let users post or share content viewable by others.
The common-sense measure is sponsored by a true bipartisan team — state Sens. Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, and Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, and state Reps. Andrew Boesenecker, D-Fort Collins, and Anthony Hartsook, R-Parker — and passed the House with almost no opposition. Its support spans the spectrum of prominent stakeholder groups, from law enforcement like the Colorado District Attorneys Council and the Colorado Chiefs of Police, to Children’s Hospital Colorado and gun-control advocate Colorado Ceasefire.
Polis vetoed a substantially broader version of the measure last year. It had a lot of the same stakeholder support, including from The Gazette’s editorial board. In addition to this year’s provisions on warrants, last year’s bill had required social media to share data on any firearms sales in violation of state and federal law; sales of illicit substances; sex trafficking of minors, and the possession, display, sale, exchange or creation of sexually exploitative material involving minors.
Polis’ office has indicated support for this year’s measure. That’s warranted given the predatory dangers lurking on social media frequented by youth. SB 26-011 is less far-reaching than last year’s legislation but still provides an additional inoculation against the many social media-borne maladies that trip up kids and can lead to tragedy.
As our editorial board noted in support of last year’s bill, our children are imperiled as never before by the threat of illegal, dangerous and despicable activity promoted on social media. Those dangers are just a few taps away on a phone app for many if not most children.
While parents are the ultimate firewall between their kids and what comes across their digital devices, there are some sensible steps we can take as a state to support them. SB26-011 is one such step.
